Message on the Occasion of International Customs Day 2026

By Claude A Paul – Permanent Secretary
Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council

Distinguished colleagues, partners, and friends,

On this International Customs Day 2026, we join the rest of the world in observing this important
occasion under the theme: “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.”
This theme advocates the World Customs Organization’s global vision and speaks directly to our
Caribbean reality.

Our borders are unique, porous with open seas that welcome commerce, culture, and connection,
yet also expose us to vulnerabilities. Caribbean Customs officers must stand at the frontline,
ensuring that legitimate trade flows freely while illicit activity is intercepted. This balance between
facilitation and vigilance is the essence of our mission to protect society.

The sixteen (16) officers of the graduating class are: Alexica Bolt; Annemarie Wilson; Deliegh Griffiths; Derrick Neysmith, Elizabeth Burey; Jamel Winton; Jose Rico; Keanu Atkinson; Mase Beckford; Michael Tibbetts; Patrick Comrie; Roger Watler; Shaniquica Douglas; Shaquille Roberts; Stephanie Martin and Tavoy Bennett.

Grand Cayman, 29 April 2025 – Sixteen proud Caymanians were officially welcomed into the Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) as the newest officers during a formal ceremony held on 24^th April 2025 at the Harquail Theatre.

The CBC Officers successfully completed an intensive ten-month Basic Training Course which incorporated both theory and practical elements of the role. The syllabus included topics such as Enforcement, Migration, Passport and Baggage Control, Passenger Processing, Trade and Revenue, Compliance and Investigations, Case File Preparation, the CBC, Misuse of Drugs, Firearms, Immigration Transition and other Acts and Court Procedures among other key topics.

In addition to family and friends of the graduates, other esteemed persons were in attendance. These persons included the Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Attorney General Hon. Samuel Bulgin, Minster for Border Control, Labour & Culture Hon. Dwayne Seymour, Deputy Chief Officer Danielle Roberts, CBC Director Bruce Smith and other senior representatives from the Ministry and CBC.

Happy International Customs Day to all customs officials serving in various capacities within our member administrations. As we celebrate this important day, we are expected to identify with the World Customs Organization’s theme for this year which is: “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity”. Customs Administrations are expected to transform those “commitments into tangible actions that advance trade facilitation, ensure security and foster sustainable economic growth”. Such an expectation is well within our capacity to do given the multiplicity of roles played by Customs in today’s context. This includes three distinct aspects related to international trade:

1. 1. 1. 1. The fiscal aspect -revenue collection, Import duties, other duties and charges and VAT
   2. The economic aspect -implementation and oversight of government economic policies including International (trade related) treaty obligations, and
   3. The protection and security aspects – protecting society from transborder criminal activity and safeguarding national interest including citizens’ health.

The reality in our region is that individually, many of our administrations are struggling with preforming these roles effectively. These challenges stem from the size and geographic nature of the countries, inadequacy of resources and our inability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Many administrations have not fully adopted modern concepts such as risk management and post clearance audits preferring to rely on the traditional way of operating, with upfront control and a high percentage of inspections. The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement which came into effect in 2017 contains several measures for implementation by Customs which for some reason are not a treated as a strategic priority by many countries in the region.  On the other hand, a few countries have made tremendous strides in advancing towards improving the service delivery and operating more effective and efficient systems. The question is why is it possible for some to make the required changes while others are reluctant or unable to do so?

Each participating country shared reports on enforcement activities and their roles within the Enforcement Network. The meeting also benefited from partner agencies’ presentations, which outlined their functions in the regional context and offered recommendations for strengthening collaboration with the Caribbean RILO/JIO and individual administrations.

Participants received virtual presentations on key topics, including best practices in risk management from Jamaica, an update from the WCO on the progress of the Synthetic Drugs Detection Project, and insights from the West European RILO on enforcement tools available to the region. A standout moment of the workshop was CARICOM IMPACS’ presentation on “The Use of Data Analytics in Enforcement,” which sparked significant discussion and engagement.

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) and the St. Lucia Council for Technical Vocational and Educational Training (SLUCTVET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to mark the beginning of a partnership aimed at developing training standards for customs courses. These courses are not currently recognized as part of the promotion criteria for career advancement. The MOU was signed by Mr. Claude A. Paul, Permanent Secretary of CCLEC, and Mr. Perry Thomas, Chairman of the TVET Council, on October 10, 2024.

This agreement officially launches a process that will lead to the certification and recognition of competency-based learning currently offered by CCLEC through various modes, including its eLearning platform, (https://elearning.cclec.org). Training is also available to customs administrations through traditional face-to-face sessions. The courses range from entry-level to advanced and specialized training programs designed to build capacity and enhance the competence of customs officers across the region.

In 2023, more than 150 officers completed the Junior Officer Basic (JOB) Course, and many others took part in specialized training.

The MOU provides a structured framework to establish and improve training standards, ensuring relevance and applicability. An expert panel comprising experienced professionals from across the region will oversee the development and revision of content as needed.

The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) celebrated its 46th Annual Conference in Nassau, Bahamas from May 29th to 31st, 2024, under the theme “Transforming the Customs Landscape to Meet Changing Needs.” The main objective of the CCLEC Annual Conference is to foster networking between Customs Comptrollers and strategic partners on both regional and international levels.

The conference saw attendance from representatives of 22 countries, along with various regional and international observers, including the World Customs Organization, CARICOM IMPACS, Korean Customs/CUPIA, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The opening ceremony welcomed distinguished guests, including diplomatic corps members, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Government departments, member administration delegates, and other esteemed attendees. The keynote address was delivered by the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Honorable Phillip E. Davis. In his address, he highlighted CCLEC’s pivotal role in bringing together Customs administrations in the region since 1989, enhancing their ability to enforce customs laws, combat illicit activities, and facilitate legitimate trade through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

It’s a pleasure to be here today at the 46th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC).

I welcome all delegates, distinguished guests, and representatives from across our region and beyond, who have gathered here in the capital of our beautiful Bahamas.

Your presence is encouraging, as it demonstrates a commitment to fostering cooperation, enhancing customs enforcement, and promoting economic prosperity in the Caribbean.

Since its establishment in 1989, CCLEC has played a pivotal role in uniting customs administrations across our region.

This council has significantly strengthened our ability to enforce customs laws, combat illicit activities, and facilitate legitimate trade through collaboration and knowledge sharing. The theme of this year’s conference, “Transforming the Customs Landscape to Meet Changing Needs,” aptly captures the essence of our ongoing mission, and the challenges we face in an ever-evolving global landscape.

This conference serves as a reminder of the critical role that customs administrations play in safeguarding our borders, enhancing revenue collection, and ensuring the smooth facilitation of trade.

It will also highlight the importance of protecting our economies from the threats posed by smuggling, fraud, and other illicit activities.

In today’s world, where technological advancement and globalization continue to reshape the dynamics of trade and security, it is imperative that we remain agile and innovative, as we keep up with modern trends.

Over the next few days, this conference will serve as a vital platform for discussing and exploring cutting-edge strategies and technologies that can enhance our customs operations. From advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to blockchain and other emerging technologies, the sessions will provide invaluable insights into how we can leverage these tools to build capacity while improving efficiency, accuracy, and security in our customs processes.

From left: Messrs Duncan Potter, Pranab Das and Claude Paul

Mr. Pranab Das, Director of Compliance and Facilitation at the World Customs Organization (WCO), and Mr Duncan Potter, WCO regional representative, met with the Permanent Secretary of the

Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, at the CCLEC Secretariat to explore avenues for strengthening collaboration between the two organizations. The meeting underscored the shared commitment of WCO and CCLEC towards fostering cooperation and addressing challenges facing the region.

Key discussions revolved around various topics, including WCO’s support for small island states, trade facilitation, capacity building, staffing for the WCO Caribbean Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) hosted by CCLEC in St Lucia, data collection. CCLEC also provided an update on the advancement of its treaty efforts to establish the Caribbean Customs Organization (CCO) and expressed its interest in subsequently exploring the possibility of amending the MoU with WCO.

The dialogue emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation to improve trade facilitation and compliance, thereby fostering socio-economic development in the region. By forging closer ties, WCO and CCLEC aim to set a solid foundation for future initiatives in enhancing regional customs modernization and facilitation.

This collaborative effort highlights the significance of international cooperation amidst evolving global dynamics. It signals a promising step forward in advancing customs modernization initiatives, not only in the Caribbean but also on a global scale.